Packaged envelopes

ABSTRACT

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a block of packaged envelopes, comprising: a plurality of envelopes arranged in series, facing one another; a first paper-based rigid sheet at a first end of the series; a second paper-based rigid sheet at a second, opposite end of the series; the plurality of envelopes being located in-between the first and second paper-based rigid sheets; and a binder that extends around the paper-based rigid sheets and the plurality of envelopes located in-between the sheets, to bind the plurality of envelopes in series arrangement, and to form the block of packaged envelopes.

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to packaged envelopes, and inparticular to a block of packaged envelopes. The present invention alsorelates generally to apparatus and a method for producing such a blockof packaged envelopes.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from United Kingdom patent applicationnumber GB1606401.6, the entire content of which is incorporated hereinby reference.

BACKGROUND

It is of course known to send items by mail within an envelope.Individual or more casual users of the mail system may purchase one ormore individual envelopes at a time, or small packs of envelopes, foruse as and when necessary. However, more commercial users of the mailsystem may order, use and generally handle envelopes in bulk. In such amore commercial scenario, it is often more efficient to use blocks ofpackaged envelopes, for example when shipping the envelopes to thecommercial user, or even when being handled by the commercial user, forexample when loading the envelopes into an automated envelope packing ormailing system.

It is desirable to ensure that the blocks of packaged envelopes arepackaged with sufficient structural integrity for handling and so on,but at the same time with as little excess packaging as possible.Minimising packaging leads to minimising the size and weight of theblock of packaged envelopes for shipping, handling and storage, but atthe same time reduces waste associated with the use of the block ofpackaged envelopes.

As discussed in more detail below, one approach to packaging envelopesin a block configuration is to locate the envelopes in a cardboard boxor similar. However, this can lead to excess packaging and, as a result,waste. A more recent alternative has been to replace the cardboard boxwith rigid plastic sheets located at either end of a series ofenvelopes, the rigid plastic sheets being used to provide structuralintegrity to the block of envelopes as a whole. However, this latterdevelopment is also not ideal, since the plastic sheets bring an elementto the packaging that is difficult or sometimes impossible to readilyrecycle or dispose of in a responsible manner.

SUMMARY

It is an example aim of example embodiments of the present invention toat least partly diminish or avoid the disadvantages of the prior art asdiscussed herein or elsewhere, or to at least provide a viablealternative to prior art implementations.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a blockof packaged envelopes, comprising: a plurality of envelopes arranged inseries, facing one another; a first paper-based rigid sheet at a firstend of the series; a second paper-based rigid sheet at a second,opposite end of the series; the plurality of envelopes being locatedin-between the first and second paper-based rigid sheets; and a binderthat extends around the paper-based rigid sheets and the plurality ofenvelopes located in-between the sheets, to bind the plurality ofenvelopes in series arrangement, and to form the block of packagedenvelopes.

The first and second paper-based rigid sheets may comprise card orcardboard.

The first and second paper-based rigid sheets may be separate from oneanother.

The first and second paper-based rigid sheets may be rigid in that eachsheet is more rigid than: a packaged envelope, or a substantial portionof a packaged envelope, or a substantial portion of a face of such apackaged envelope.

The binder may extend around the paper-based rigid sheets and theplurality of envelopes located in-between the sheets, such that a topedge and/or a bottom edge of each envelope is substantially unencumberedby the binder.

The top edge may comprise or partially define an envelope flap or otheropening, and the bottom edge may be substantially opposite to the topedge.

Each of the first and second paper-based rigid sheets may be eachadjacent to and substantially cover a face of an end envelope of theseries.

The binder may be elastic.

The binder may be a polymer film.

One or more envelopes may each comprise a flap which results in alocalised increased thickness of the envelope. The block might compriseone or more inserts provided in-between the envelopes, to counteract thelocalised increase in thickness and to promote and/or maintain a morecuboid series formation of envelopes.

One or more envelopes might each comprise a flap which results in alocalised increased thickness of the envelope. Such envelopes might eachcomprise one or more edges which have a thickness similar to that of theflap-related localised increased thickness of the envelope, tocounteract the localised increase in thickness and to promote and/ormaintain a more cuboid series formation of envelopes.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is providedapparatus for producing a block of packaged envelopes, the apparatuscomprising: a clamp arranged to clamp together a first paper-based rigidsheet at a first end of a series of envelopes, a plurality of envelopesarranged in the series, the envelopes facing one another, and a secondpaper-based rigid sheet at a second, opposite end of the series, suchthat the plurality of envelopes are located in-between the first andsecond paper-based rigid sheets, and maintained in that configuration bythe clamp; and a wrapper, arranged to provide a binder that extendsaround the paper-based rigid sheets and the plurality of envelopeslocated in-between the sheets, to bind the plurality of envelopes inseries arrangement, and to form the block of packaged envelopes.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a methodof producing a block of packaged envelopes, the method comprising:clamping together: a first paper-based rigid sheet at a first end of aseries of envelopes, a plurality of envelopes arranged in the series,the envelopes facing one another, and a second paper-based rigid sheetat a second, opposite end of the series, such that the plurality ofenvelopes are located in-between the first and second paper-based rigidsheets; providing a binder that extends around the paper-based rigidsheets and the plurality of envelopes located in-between the sheets, tobind the plurality of envelopes in series arrangement; removing theclamp.

Clamping might be applied against the first and second paper-based rigidsheets.

The binder might also initially extend around a portion of a clamp thatperforms the clamping, and the clamp is subsequently removed such thatthe binder is in contact with the first and second paper-based rigidsheets and/or the series of envelopes.

It will be appreciated by the skilled person, from a reading of thisdisclosure in combination with the inherent knowledge of the skilledperson, that unless clearly mutually exclusive, one or more features ofany aspect of the invention might be combined with, and/or replace oneor more features of any other aspect of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodimentsof the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, byway of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic Figures in which:

FIG. 1 schematically depicts a block of envelopes;

FIG. 2 schematically depicts a block of envelopes packaged in acardboard box;

FIGS. 3 to 6 schematically depict the packaging of a block of envelopesusing rigid plastic sheets;

FIGS. 7 to 9 schematically depict the packaging of a block of envelopesusing rigid paper-based sheets, according to an example embodiment;

FIGS. 10 to 15 schematically depict principles and apparatus forproducing a block of packaged envelopes according to an exampleembodiment;

FIGS. 16 to 18 schematically depict problems associated with a packagingseries of envelopes, and a proposed solution; and

FIG. 19 schematically depicts a method of producing a block of packagedenvelopes according to an example embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 schematically depicts a block of envelopes 2. The block ofenvelopes 2 comprises a plurality of envelopes arranged in series,facing one another. It is often necessary to handle such a block ofenvelopes 2 in a unitary manner, such that the block can be moved as asingle element, as opposed to having to move a sub-set of the envelopesof the block 2 at any one time.

FIG. 2 shows that the block of envelopes of FIG. 1 may be convenientlylocated in a cardboard box 4, for example, for general handling and soon. The cardboard box 4 is convenient, in that it is relatively cheap.It is also more rigid than the envelopes 2, so that the block 2 and box4 together maintain their structural integrity during handling. The box4 can be made to be relatively tight fitting with respect of the blockof envelopes 2, to ensure that little or no damage occurs to the blockof envelopes during handling. Of course, another highly significantbenefit of the use of the cardboard box 4 is the relative ease by whichsuch a box 4 may be constructed and disposed of, and in particularlyrecycled.

Although the use of the cardboard box 4 is in many ways very convenient,there are also disadvantages. For example, when the envelopes need to beremoved from the box 4, the box 4 will then serve little or no purposewhatsoever, and is thus simply treated as waste. The amount of wastemight be significant in a commercial environment, where many blocks 2might be used. Storing the waste might be inconvenient, and disposing ofthe waste might also be inconvenient. So, it is desirable to minimisethe amount of waste that needs to be stored and disposed of. Finally,the amount of packaging might be excessive simply in terms of requiredpackaging, regardless of the subsequent problem of waste disposal.

More recently, an alternative to the cardboard box of FIG. 2 has beenproposed as a significant improvement. FIG. 3 shows the block ofenvelopes 2. Rigid plastic sheets 6 are located at each end of theseries of envelopes forming the block 2. The rigid plastic sheets 6 maybe scaffold, skeleton or frame like, to maintain rigidity whilst at thesame time minimising size or weight.

FIG. 4 shows the block of envelopes 2 with the rigid plastic sheets 6located at either end of the series of envelopes forming the block 2.

FIG. 5 then shows that a binder 8 is provided which extends around therigid plastic sheets 6 and the series of series of envelopes 2 locatedin between the sheets 6, to bind the envelopes 2 in the seriesarrangement, and to form the block of packaged envelopes.

FIG. 6 shows that an alternative rigid plastic sheet 10 may be used,which is more sheet-like. The sheet 10 might be provided with one ormore apertures 12, for example for receiving one or more arms or fingersof a machine used in the packaging or un-packaging of the envelopes 2.

The idea behind the use of rigid plastic sheets, and binder, is that theoverall amount of packaging is reduced, when compared with, for examplethe cardboard box approach of FIG. 2. For instance, FIG. 5 shows thatthe structural integrity of the block of envelopes or the block ofpackaged envelopes as a whole is maintained, without the need for acovering or base otherwise supporting a top or bottom of the block ofenvelopes 2. That is, the block 2 may maintain structural integritysimply by use of the binder pushing or otherwise compressing the rigidsheets 6 into and toward faces of the series of envelopes 2, since thismaintains the envelopes in the block-like series configuration. Thissimple but effective approach might mean that the amount of packaging issignificantly reduced, which might reduce shipping costs, storage costs,disposal time and costs and so on.

However, much like the situation with the cardboard box of FIG. 2, whilethe rigid plastic sheet approach of FIG. 6 is often convenient, it isnot ideal. For instance, the use of rigid plastic sheets 6, 10 may bemore harmful for the environment than the use of a cardboard box, andthe rigid plastic sheets 6, 10 may be over-engineered in comparison witha cardboard box.

According to an aspect of the present invention, disadvantages of theexisting approaches of, at least, FIGS. 1 to 6, may be at leastpartially overcome or entirely avoided. According to exampleembodiments, these aims may be achieved by taking the best aspects ofthe cardboard box approach, and the best aspects of the rigid plasticsheet approach, and excluding the parts of both approaches which areassociated with disadvantages. In particular, this means that, accordingto example embodiments, the rigid plastic sheets of the example of FIGS.3-6 are, quite simply but effectively, replaced with paper-based rigidsheets.

The simple changing of a rigid plastic sheet to a rigid paper-basedsheet may seem simple. In many ways, this is the case. However, theapproach is nevertheless extremely effective, and takes the advantagesof the cardboard box approach in terms of paper-based sheets being easyto produce, brand, process, and dispose and recycle, but also takes theapproach of the rigid plastic sheet example, in there being no need toprovide a rigid sheet or other sheet around the entirety of the externalsurface of the block of envelopes, thereby minimising the amount ofmaterial (paper-based or otherwise) that is required.

FIG. 7 schematically depicts a block of envelopes 2. The block 2comprises a plurality of envelopes arranged in a series, facing oneanother. First and second paper-based rigid sheets 20 are, respectively,located at first and second ends of the series of envelopes that formthe block 2.

It can be seen that the rigid paper-based sheets 20 are separate fromone another. That is, the sheets 20 are not connected to one another,for example by a connecting piece of paper-based material, which mightbe the case in a cardboard box-like approach described above. In otherwords, such an interconnecting piece or the like is not required in thisexample. Simple square or rectangular sheets are all that is required.

The paper-based sheets 20 are conveniently formed from card orcardboard, or any other rigid form of paper-based configuration that ismore rigid than an envelope to be packaged, a substantial portion ofsuch an envelope, or a substantial portion of a face of such anenvelope. In other words, the sheet needs to be generally more rigidthan one or more envelopes in order to ensure that, when packaged, theblock has structural integrity, and leads to little or no damage to theenvelopes.

It can be seen that each of the first and second paper-based rigidsheets 20 are adjacent to and substantially cover a face of an endenvelope of the series 2. This might assist in protecting not only theend envelopes, but one or more envelopes at the ends of the series, forexample from bending or tearing during handling and the like, or at thevery least may improve the structural integrity of the block ofpackaging below as a whole.

In an alternative, each sheet might comprise one or more holes forreducing the weight of, or amount of material constituting, the sheet,while at the same time providing sufficient rigidity. The one or moreholes could be perforations, or more sizeable apertures.

Referring back to the present example, FIG. 8 shows the block ofenvelopes 2 with the rigid paper-based sheets 20 located at either endof the series of envelopes that form the block 2.

FIG. 9 shows that the rigid paper-based sheets 20 are maintained incontact with the series of envelopes that form the block 2 by way of abinder 22. The binder 22 extends around the paper-based rigid sheets 20and the plurality of envelopes 2 located in between the sheets 20, inorder to bind the plurality of envelopes 2 in a series of arrangement,and to therefore form a block of packaged envelopes.

The binder 22 can be anything that is capable of binding and thusmaintaining the plurality of envelopes in the series arrangement. Forexample, the binder 22 might be a tape, strip, sheet, or wrap, oranything which will fulfill the needs described previously. The binder22 might conveniently be formed from an elastic material which mightassist not only in the maintaining of a series arrangement but also beconvenient for use in the application of the binder to the rigid sheets20 and envelopes 2. Alternatively and/or additionally, the binder mightbe conveniently formed from a polymer film which might be easy toproduce, apply, dispose of and so on. Also, a polymer film might be verylightweight yet strong, but at the same time have other desirableproperties, for example being transparent, or easy to print on, and soon. The binder might be at least partially transparent, so as to allowthe envelopes/rigid sheets to be visible when bound.

Referring back to FIG. 9, and in summary, it can be seen that thefinished block of packaged envelopes takes much the same advantageousgeneral form as that already described in relation to the rigid plasticsheet approach of FIG. 5. However, the main advantages of the approachof the example embodiments is the relatively ease by which paper-basedsheets may be produced and disposed of in comparison with the use ofrigid plastic sheets. Again, the benefits of a cardboard box, and thebenefits of plastic rigid liners, are brought together, but withoutrelated disadvantages.

FIGS. 10 to 15 will now be used to describe principles and apparatus forproducing the block of packaged envelopes, for instance the block ofpackaged envelopes as already shown in and described with reference toFIG. 9.

FIG. 10 shows the block of envelopes 2. Opposing arms or parts of aclamp 30 are used to bring or urge the paper-based rigid sheets 20 intocontact with the block of envelopes 2.

FIG. 11 shows the situation when the paper-based rigid sheets 20 havebeen brought into engagement and contact with the block of envelopes 2by the clamp 30.

FIG. 12 shows that the block 2, sheets 20, and clamp 30 may together belocated within a wrapper 32 (e.g. a wrapping station, system orconfiguration). Alternatively, the wrapper 32 may be brought about andor located around the block 2, sheets 20, and clamp 30. The wrapper 32is arranged to provide the binder 22 that extends around the paper-basedrigid sheets 20, and envelopes 2. In this particular example, and due tothe nature of the clamping 30, the binder 22 also initially extendsaround a portion of the clamp 30 that performs the clamping.

The binder 22 may be applied in any particular manner, for example byrelative movement between the wrapper 32 or a part thereof and clamp 30,sheets 20, and envelopes 2. In general, the binder 22 might beconveniently wrapped around the clamp 30, sheets 20 and envelopes 2.

FIG. 13 shows the situation when the binder 22 has been applied.

FIG. 14 shows the clamp 30 being removed. One or more parts of the clamp30 being tapered or relatively non-stick in nature might facilitaterelatively easy removal of the clamp from in-between part of the binder22 and the paper-based rigid sheets 20.

FIG. 15 shows the finished lock of packaged envelopes, comprising theenvelopes in series 2, the paper-based rigid sheets 20 located at eitherend of the series, and the binder 22 extending around the sheets 20 andenvelopes 2.

It can be seen that in at least the examples described so far, thebinder 22 extends around the paper-based rigid sheets 20 and theplurality of envelopes 2 located in-between the sheets 20, such that atop edge and/or a bottom edge of each envelope in the series issubstantially unencumbered by the binder 22—i.e. not covered or impingedupon by the binder 22. Firstly, such an arrangement means that anyunnecessary packaging in the form of excessive binder is not required,reducing costs and weight. At the same time, the envelopes 2 might beunpacked and, for example, loaded into other machinery in a convenientmanner, simply by removal of the binder 22, allowing the envelopes tofall or otherwise be loaded into the machinery in a straight forwardmanner.

It will be appreciated that “top” and “bottom” might be understood asrelative terms. However, it is common in the art for the top edge to beunderstood as comprising or at least partially defining an envelope flapor other opening, and the bottom edge as being substantially opposite tosuch a top edge.

In all of the previous examples, a block-like series of envelopes hasbeen shown and described. In some instances, the block-shape might berelatively easy or straight forward to achieve or maintain. However,this might depend on the particular features of the envelopes that areused. These particular features might, without some form ofintervention, actually make it quite difficult to achieve the uniformblock-shape shown above. For instance, FIG. 16 shows a series ofenvelopes 40. Each envelope 42 in this series 40 is provided with a flap44 for use in gaining access to and sealing an internal space of theenvelope 42. It can be seen that this flap 44 results in a localisedincrease in thickness of each envelope 42 which, when a plurality ofsuch envelopes are located in the series, results in the series nothaving a block-form. The block exhibits a fan-like or taper shape orsimilar. This is not ideal for packaging or handling. It is desirable toat least encourage the formation of a block-like shape.

FIG. 17 shows that a block-shape might be achieved by locating one ormore inserts 46 in-between the envelopes 44, away from, or notincluding, the region defining or comprising the flap 44, to counteractthe localised increase in thickness of the flap 44. The inserts 46 mighthave the same sort of thickness as the flap 44. It can be seen that amore block-like cuboid form is the result of the use of such inserts 46.

The inserts might be paper-based in construction, so as to be easilyproduced and disposed of along with waste sheets described previously.

FIG. 18 depicts an alternative to the solution of FIG. 17, by the use ofmodified or different envelopes 52. Each envelope 52 again comprises aflap 54 for gaining access to an internal space of the envelope 52, orfor sealing the envelope 52. Flap 54 again results in a localisedincrease in the thickness of the envelope 52. In this embodiment anddifferent from that described in FIG. 17, each envelope 52 comprises oneor more edges 56 which have a thickness similar to that of the flap 54,or at least the flap-related localised increase in thickness of theenvelope 52. The thicker edges (or more generally, regions) counteractthe localised flap-related increase in thickness, and so promote and/ormaintain the more cuboid block-like series formation of envelopes.

The thicker edges 56 might be integrally formed with the envelope 52,for example comprising additional material in the construction of theenvelope, or one or more folds or creases or the like in the envelope.It might well be that the edges 56 with increased thickness do notextend along, about or around an entire perimeter, length or face of theenvelope, but only at certain locations of the envelope, for examplealong all or parts of (e.g. at corners or a middle of) an edge oppositethe flap.

FIG. 19 is a flow chart schematically depicting a method of producing ablock of packaged envelopes according to an example embodiment. Themethod largely summarises the methodology and principles alreadydescribed above. The method comprises clamping together: a firstpaper-based rigid sheet at a first end of a series of envelopes, aplurality of envelopes arranged in the series, the envelopes facing oneanother, and a second paper- based rigid sheet at a second, opposite endof the series, such that the plurality of envelopes are locatedin-between the first and second paper-based rigid sheets 60. A binder isthen provided that extends around the paper-based sheets and theplurality of envelopes located in-between the sheets, to bind theplurality of envelopes in series arrangement 62. The clamp is thenremoved 64, to leave the block of packaged envelopes.

It is worth repeating that even though the invention is quite simple,and is closely related to at least the two previous approaches topackaging or producing blocks of envelopes, the benefits arenevertheless extremely significant to the industry. No-one has yetrealised that the best portions of the two prior art approaches can beused or taken advantage of, whilst at the same time not employingcertain parts of these approaches which are associated with certaindisadvantages. The result is a simple but effective and extremelyadvantageous solution which has far more benefits than the previousapproaches, yet none of the drawbacks.

It will be appreciated that the invention might be employed in a newblock of packaging envelopes, or a new apparatus for producing such ablock of packaged envelopes, or a related new method. However, theinvention might also be implemented by modification of existingapparatus or methods. For example, existing methods which employ rigidplastic-based sheets might be modified by replacing those plastic sheetswith paper-based sheets described above. This simple but extremelyeffective change will result in a block of packaged envelopes that ismore efficient to make, handle, and process, and for which the packagingis easier to dispose of in a responsible manner and/or recycle.

Although a few preferred embodiments have been shown and described, itwill be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications might be made without departing from the scope of theinvention, as defined in the appended claims.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filedconcurrently with or previous to this specification in connection withthis application and which are open to public inspection with thisspecification, and the contents of all such papers and documents areincorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including anyaccompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps ofany method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination,except combinations where at least some of such features and/or stepsare mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanyingclaims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative featuresserving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly statedotherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each featuredisclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent orsimilar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoingembodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novelcombination, of the features disclosed in this specification (includingany accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, orany novel combination, of the steps of any method or process sodisclosed.

1. A block of packaged envelopes, comprising: a plurality of envelopesarranged in series, facing one another; a first paper-based rigid sheetat a first end of the series; a second paper-based rigid sheet at asecond, opposite end of the series; the plurality of envelopes beinglocated in-between the first and second paper-based rigid sheets; and abinder that extends around the paper-based rigid sheets and theplurality of envelopes located in-between the sheets, to bind theplurality of envelopes in series arrangement, and to form the block ofpackaged envelopes.
 2. The block of packaged envelopes of claim 1,wherein the first and second paper-based rigid sheets comprise card orcardboard.
 3. The block of packaged envelopes of claim 1, wherein thefirst and second paper-based rigid sheets are separate from one another.4. The block of packaged envelopes of claim 1, wherein the first andsecond paper-based rigid sheets are rigid in that each sheet is morerigid than: a packaged envelope, or a substantial portion of a packagedenvelope, or a substantial portion of a face of such a packagedenvelope.
 5. The block of packaged envelopes of claim 1, wherein thebinder extends around the paper-based rigid sheets and the plurality ofenvelopes located in-between the sheets, such that a top edge and/or abottom edge of each envelope is substantially unencumbered by thebinder.
 6. The block of packaged envelopes of claim 5, wherein the topedge comprises or partially defines an envelope flap or other opening,and the bottom edge is substantially opposite the top edge.
 7. The blockof packaged envelopes of claim 1, wherein each of the first and secondpaper-based rigid sheets are each adjacent to and substantially cover aface of an end envelope of the series.
 8. The block of packagedenvelopes of claim 1, wherein the binder is elastic.
 9. The block ofpackaged envelopes of claim 1, wherein the binder is a polymer film. 10.The block of packaged envelopes of claim 1, wherein one or moreenvelopes each comprise a flap which results in a localised increasedthickness of the envelope, and wherein the block comprises one or moreinserts provided in-between the envelopes, to counteract the localisedincrease in thickness and to promote and/or maintain a more cuboidseries formation of envelopes.
 11. The block of packaged envelopes ofclaim 1, wherein one or more envelopes each comprise a flap whichresults in a localised increased thickness of the envelope, and whereinsuch envelopes each comprise one or more edges which have a thicknesssimilar to that of the flap-related localised increased thickness of theenvelope, to counteract the localised increase in thickness and topromote and/or maintain a more cuboid series formation of envelopes. 12.Apparatus for producing a block of packaged envelopes, the apparatuscomprising: a clamp arranged to clamp together: a first paper-basedrigid sheet at a first end of a series of envelopes, a plurality ofenvelopes arranged in the series, the envelopes facing one another, anda second paper-based rigid sheet at a second, opposite end of theseries, such that the plurality of envelopes are located in-between thefirst and second paper-based rigid sheets, and maintained in thatconfiguration by the clamp; and a wrapper, arranged to provide a binderthat extends around the paper-based rigid sheets and the plurality ofenvelopes located in-between the sheets, to bind the plurality ofenvelopes in series arrangement, and to form the block of packagedenvelopes.
 13. A method of producing a block of packaged envelopes, themethod comprising: clamping together: a first paper-based rigid sheet ata first end of a series of envelopes, a plurality of envelopes arrangedin the series, the envelopes facing one another, and a secondpaper-based rigid sheet at a second, opposite end of the series, suchthat the plurality of envelopes are located in-between the first andsecond paper-based rigid sheets; providing a binder that extends aroundthe paper-based rigid sheets and the plurality of envelopes locatedin-between the sheets, to bind the plurality of envelopes in seriesarrangement; removing the clamp.
 14. The method of producing a block ofpackaged envelopes of claim 13, wherein clamping is applied against thefirst and second paper-based rigid sheets.
 15. The method of producing ablock of packaged envelopes of claim 13, wherein the binder alsoinitially extends around a portion of a clamp that performs theclamping, and the clamp is subsequently removed such that the binder isin contact with the first and second paper-based rigid sheets and/or theseries of envelopes.